Ajewish messenger - Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford
Transcription
Ajewish messenger - Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford
When a child needs an education, a family loses their income or an entire community is devastated by a disaster, Federation provides a safety net. It’s a pledge we live by. We are there to help a distressed family regain their footing. To rescue and rebuild after a catastrophe. We make sure a Holocaust survivor isn’t deserted, and that no one who is disabled is without assistance. A jewish messenger Tishrei 5775 Fall 2014 T h e J e w i s h F e d e r a t i o n o f G re a t e r N e w B e d f o rd Israel in Need — We Respond At home, in Israel and around the globe, we’re seeking innovative approaches to supporting and nurturing our people wherever they’re in need. Helping thousands to discover or reconnect to their Jewish identity wherever there’s a longing. Your Federation gift enables us to accomplish all this and more. Give to Federation today. Visit us at JewishNewBedford.org or call 508-997-7471 Jewish Federation Of Greater New Bedford 467 Hawthorn Street | Dartmouth, MA 02747 Nearly $15,000 was raised as 45 families in our community responded to the call to donate above and beyond their annual gifts to the Federation’s Stop the Sirens campaign. Kol HaKavod. from the president FusionPro Text FusionPro Text I have been a board member. I have been interim executive director. And now, as of July 1, I am president of the board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, an organization that I and my family hold dear. Thank you for supporting me in this role. Thank you, Judy Barry, for passing the baton and leading the Federation in the year prior. I look forward to a productive year, filled with meaningful programming and opportunities to engage the community. I am happy to report that the 201314 Campaign came to a successful conclusion on June 30, raising more than $200,000. With these funds, the Federation will continue to sustain the Jewish community today and for future generations. Highlights from the past year include a concert by Shir Ba’ Emek, an Israeli singing ensemble, at our Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration and annual blood drive; cooking via Skype with Israeli friends from our SNEC community of Afula-Gilboa; Holocaust programs at the Yom Ha’Shoah observance and in local classrooms, supported by curriculum materials and speakers; a partnership with Coastline Elderly to help community members in need; and a collegial relationship with the Center for Jewish Culture at UMass Dartmouth and the Bristol Community College Holocaust Center. Our Federation is proud to enhance Jewish life both here and abroad. The people of Israel, in particular, are close in thought and deed. Through the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC), Taglit-Birthright Israel and Israeli Young Emissaries, we strengthen our ties with the land of our ancestors. There are times when Israel needs our support more than others. This summer was one of those times. The conflict with Hamas in Gaza left many in the surrounding Israeli lands traumatized by the bombs and bomb shelters. The Jewish Federations of North America asked that Federation members heed the call for help by contributing to a Stop the Sirens Israel emergency campaign. Our members generously responded with $9,429 in individual gifts, matched by $5,000 of Federation funds, for a total contribution of nearly $15,000. While the work of healing and rebuilding is ongoing, Israel will recover in time. I am comforted that our own contributions will make the process easier. If you have suggestions or concerns in the coming year about the work of the Federation, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. May the New Year be a sweet one. L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah. Ellen Hull Board of directors 2014-15 Ellen Hull, president Martin Lipman, vice president Marsha Onufrak, vice president Stuart Forman, treasurer Amir Cohen, executive director William Abesh Kenneth Ackerman Pearl Bacdayan Susan Barnet Andrew Barroll Jack Belkin Jason Falk Deborah Forman Janet Freedman Wendy Friedman Arthur Glassman Ruth Glicksman Barbara Gotlib Rabbi Barry Hartman Todd Herman Barbara Kaplan David Novick Matthew Philips Stanley Revzin David Rosenberg Susan Siegal Cynthia Yoken Cheryl Zeoli Alan Zexter ex-officio Alan Ades Judy Barry Paul Chervinsky David Cohen Louis Gitlin Robert Greene Kenneth Lipman Peter London Jeffrey Martin Judy Pollack Elliot Rosenfield Patricia Rosenfield Michael Russell Peter Russell Lillian Shwartz The Jewish Messenger is published by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford 467 Hawthorn Street, Dartmouth, MA 02747 T -508-997-7471 email - [email protected] page 2 | jewish messenger We Have Come Far By Dr. Stuart Forman D uring my second term as president of the board, it became clear that our Federation had to adjust to a new reality. Our resources were limited; the community was not growing; and the cost of maintaining our organization was becoming larger in proportion to the amount of programming provided and funds raised. Federation officers and dedicated volunteers worked together to respond to the challenge and agreed to a strategic shift that would turn the Federation professional leadership into a part-time position model. When the former executive director and secretary both announced that they were leaving for other positions, the timing seemed perfect. We believed that more qualified and higher caliber candidates would be attracted to the positions precisely because they did not require a full-time commitment. Amir Cohen was hired after historical value to the archives at UMass-Dartmouth. These changes helped us achieve the goal of using more of the dollars raised for charitable and programming efforts and less for operations. Judy Pollack, Judy Barry and I served as president of the board while these changes were being made. Last year the successful transition was completed. The process was greatly helped by Mike Russell, president of the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC). Under his leadership, our relationship with Israel and support of its social agencies has grown. As members of SNEC, we benefit from the synergy 11 New England Federations bring to the Afula-Gilboa region. Thanks go to Ed Siegal who chaired the finance committee during this process and to Milton Goodman, Charlie Gorfinkle, Barbara Samuels and Dot Aghai for their work on behalf of Tifereth These changes helped us achieve the goal of using more of the dollars raised for charitable and programming efforts and less for operations. a thorough search process to serve as the executive director and he hired Michelle Poirier as secretary – both working part-time hours. At approximately the same time, we downsized our office space and expenses by moving within the building, meeting Our Sisters’ School’s need for more physical space. We purged our files and arranged for the transfer of important papers with Learning here or abroad? We support you. Applications for college scholarships for 2015-2016 will be available January 2015. To be eligible for a scholarship, the family of the applicant must be a member of Federation in good standing. Grants are available for Jewish teens residing in the Greater New Bedford area for travel/study in Israel. These grants are made possible by the Harvey Friedland Israel Youth Experience Memorial Fund and the Evelyn Rosen Youth Israel Travel Fund. For more information, call (508) 997-7471 or email [email protected]. Israel. During the 2013-14 fiscal year, we’ve become a better Federation – better positioned to carry out our focused mission to promote the well-being of the Jewish people at home, abroad, and in Israel. We can all be proud of these accomplishments as we move ahead to fiscal 2014-15 and the challenges it brings. I’m confident we’re well equipped for them. l It’s a date. Whether you organize your life by smartphone or paper calendar, be sure to save the date: Annual Blood Drive Sunday, May 17, 2015 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM Southcoast Blood Donor Van Tifereth Israel parking lot Holocaust Education and Memorial Committee 2014-15 theme: The Rise of Anti-Semitism in the World October 29 Through the Eyes of a Friend (The World of Anne Frank), a performance in the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s Arts in Education series WHERE: New Bedford Whaling Museum Theater WHEN: 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM ADMISSION: $9.00 per ticket October 31 Light in a Time of Darkness: Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Rescuer Guest speakers: Dr. Robert Wheeler, professor of history, emeritus, University of New Hampshire, and Mr. Robert Jacobvitz, board member, Sousa Mendes Foundation WHERE: Margaret L. Jackson Performing Arts Center at Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River WHEN: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM ADMISSION: November 2 The Sousa Mendes Story: The Road to Recognition: From New Bedford to Lisbon Breakfast followed by guest speaker Robert Jacobvitz WHERE: Tifereth Israel Synagogue WHEN: 10:00 AM November 9 Killing Kasztner: The Jew Who Dealt with the Nazis, a featurelength theatrical documentary Film followed by talk with the director, Gaylen Ross WHERE: Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Small Hall WHEN: 2:00 PM November 16 Following Kristallnacht in Vienna: The November Pogrom of 1938 and Its Impact on Emigration Lecture and PowerPoint presentation by Professor Ilana Offenberger of UMass Dartmouth WHERE: Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Small Hall WHEN: 3:00 PM April 9 Conversation with Holocaust survivor Esther Bauer WHERE: Margaret L. Jackson Performing Arts Center at Bristol Community College WHEN: 4:00 PM April 15 Eluding the Nazis in Occupied France Lecture by Sarah Miller and Joyce Lazarus, sponsored by the Center for Jewish Culture and the Boivin Center at UMass Dartmouth WHERE: Claire T. Carney Library Grand Reading Room WHEN: 12:00 - 1:30 PM April 16 (YOM HASHOAH REMEMBRANCE DAY) Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal: The Conscience of the Holocaust, a performance in the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s Arts in Education series WHERE: Zeiterion PAC WHEN: 9:30 A (school program) and 7:30 PM ADMISSION: $20/$25/$29 per ticket April 26 Community observance of Yom HaShoah WHERE: Holocaust Monument, Buttonwood Park WHEN: 6:30 PM Speaker Robert Fokos, Holocaust survivor from Hungary who recently rediscovered his self-hidden Jewish roots WHERE: Tifereth Israel Synagogue WHEN: 7:30 PM Passover Appeal Each year, we tell the story of Passover and celebrate with tradition and food. Each year, we give so that others in need can do so as well. Thank you for your generous response to the 2014 Passover Appeal, which raised over $3,400 to purchase kosherfor-Passover foods for members of our community. Passover appeal donors Betty & William Abesh Dorothy Aghai Cecilia Alkalay Susan Barnet Rozzy & Norman Bernstein Myra Besen Ruth & Bernard Bier Elaine & Paul Chervinsky Peggy Fain Elliott Feinstein Bonnie Feldman Steven Finger Mary & Gerald Franklin Mathew & Meri Frauwith Sheldon Friedland Charlotte Friedman Wendy Friedman Mary & Arnold Gellman Goldie Gitlin Rosalyn Glaser Milton Glicksman Myra Goldberg Marcia & Ruben Goldstein Barbara & Aaron Gotlib Rabbi Barry Hartman Ruth & Burton Hastings Wil Herrup Lois Horowitz Leanora & Jeffrey Horowitz Ellen Hull Lois & George Jacobs Rabbi Raphael Kanter Linda Lane Claire & Fred Levin Frances & Clinton Levin Stanley Levine Rachel & Anthony Lewis Joanne & David Lima Martin Lipman Miriam London Sophia & Alex Lustikman Elizabeth Matathia Anne & Shawn McGuire David Meltzer Catherine Michael Nathan Naftoly National Council of Jewish Women Florence Novick Edith Pliskin Judy Pollack Susan & Bernard Portnoy Marsha & Stanley Revzin Roger Rosen Patricia & Elliot Rosenfield M.C. Rosenfield Karan & Alfred Ross Bernard Roth Catherine & Michael Russell Frima & Gilbert Shapiro Emma & Igor Shovmer Sue & Calvin Siegal Louis Silverstein Paul Solomon Judith & Robert Sterns Carol Torres & Robert Moniz Iris Wallace Cynthia & Melvin Yoken Sandra & Phillip Zeitz Maura & Michael Zeman Cheryl & Daniel Zeoli Anonymous (5) Ethel & Nathan Kaplan Passover Relief Fund jewish messenger | page 11 Holocaust Committee: A Year to Remember By Cindy Yoken F or over 30 years, the Holocaust Education and these projects were displayed at our annual Holocaust Memorial Committee, whose membership in- remembrance program. Students in Steve Nowell’s cludes people of all faiths and backgrounds, class at Roosevelt Middle School again presented skits has worked to share the story of the atrocities of the at Barnes and Noble in Dartmouth based on their readHolocaust and the lessons learned from it with our ing of Anne Frank’s story. The Holocaust Monument in Buttonwood Park now community and local students. This past year, the committee focused on the theme of “Rescue and Re- has new plants, thanks to the efforts of the Reverend sistance,” learning about those courageous people, David Lima who was instrumental in contacting Bruce both Jewish and non-Jewish, who defied prejudice and Duffy, the Southcoast tree warden. Just before our anrisked their own safety to rescue victims during the Holocaust. In October, the Holocaust Committee was proud to present a lecture at Tifereth Israel Synagogue by Irene Berman who spoke about her family’s escape from Norway to Sweden. Members of the congregation as well as many Norwegians who live in the area attended. Irene was born and raised in Norway. As a young child in 1942, she escaped with her family to Sweden, a neutral country during World War II, to avoid annihilation. With the help of the resistance, her family was led to safety. This untold story is beautifully described in her book, “We Are Dr. Sharon Delmendo (left) with Cindy and Mel Yoken Going to Pick Potatoes,” a narrative and remembrance of growing up Jewish in Norway during World War II, which Irene signed after nual Yom HaShoah program in April, new plants were the lecture. During the winter months, there were ample op- planted along the walkway leading to the monument as portunities to learn about the Holocaust at several ven- well as two trees in back. Committee members have ues in the area. At Bristol Community College’s new graciously offered to water the plants for the next two Holocaust Center, lectures for students and the com- years until they are established. This year the Holocaust Education and Memorial munity by Holocaust scholars like Dr. James Young from UMass-Amherst were offered. At UMass-Dartmouth’s Center for Jewish Culture, Dr. David Kerzer spoke in February on the Holocaust and the Pope. In March, the community was invited to Taunton to view Hitler’s propaganda films with a discussion with Rabbi Heath following the films. Several committee members also visited classrooms to teach middle school students about Abe Landau. At Our Sisters’ School, committee members were invited to speak and share a PowerPoint presentation with the 8th grade class. Following this visit, the students created their own Holocaust projects. Students at Durfee High School also wrote poems and designed beautiful art projects. The students in Pam Cole’s “Death and Dying” class at Bristol Community College researched people who rescued Jews during the Community members at the Holocaust MemoHolocaust and wrote essays about them. Several of rial Service in Buttonwood Park page 10 | jewish messenger Committee educated our students and community on the amazing rescue that took place during World War II. In 1938, when it was becoming nearly impossible for Jews to leave Europe, the Philippines, a country of more than 7,000 islands, became a haven for a large number of European Jews fleeing the Holocaust. Over 1,300 people found a home there. These refugees were known as the “Manilaners.” Our featured speaker, Dr. Sharon Delmendo, professor of English at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, spoke at the April 27 Yom HaShoah annual observance on the subject, “An Open Door: Holocaust Rescue in the Philippines.” UMass–Dartmouth’s chancellor, Dr. Divina Grossman, a native of the Philippines, introduced Dr. Delmendo. This is the little-told story of the efforts of a trans-Pacific network of dedicated individuals and organizations comprising Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Americans, Filipinos, civilians and government officials that provided at least 1,305 European Jews refuge in the Philippines between 1938 and 1940. Following the lecture, guests were invited to a dessert reception sponsored by the Filipino American Community of Southcoast featuring displays by the Filipino American community and essays and artwork by students from Bristol Community College, Durfee High School and the Bernard H. Ziskind School of Judaism. At the memorial service at the Holocaust Monument before the lecture that evening, a crowd gathered to honor and memorialize the victims of the Holocaust and to pay tribute to Abraham and Frieda Landau, whose dream it was to have a public monument. We honored the brave soldiers who fought in World War II, especially those who fought in the Philippines, as their relatives and the children of Holocaust survivors processed with candles to Tifereth Israel Synagogue. The following evening, Dr. Delmendo gave a military presentation at the Fort Rodman Fort Taber Military Museum entitled “A Somber and Durable Tapestry: the Jewish War Service in Bataan and the Philippine Resistance.” The Holocaust Committee meets monthly and plans events to educate students and the community on the Holocaust. Those interested in joining the committee should contact the Jewish Federation. l Our Partnership with Israel By Michael Russell Shir Ba’Emek before its performance in New Bedford in May. T his has been a very productive and interesting year for our partnership with Afula and the surrounding Gilboa region. As part of our membership in the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC), we continue to build relationships with the people and agencies in the region. The SNEC Afula-Gilboa partnership has two primary goals: 1. Building “Living Bridges” between Americans in our community and Israelis from that region. 2. Supporting crucial social welfare programs in the region. In support of the Living Bridge goal, one of our key activities this year in New Bedford and in several other SNEC communities was inviting Shir B’Emek, a choral group, to perform for us. The members of the group stayed at our homes, and all who hosted now have new Israeli friends – many of whom invited us to stay with them when we next visit Israel. New Bedford is also the pilot site for the first shared cooking lesson via Skype. We also had a couple of visits from Young Emissaries from the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts to Tifereth Israel’s Ziskind School. We aim to increase the Young Emissaries presence in the upcoming year. community in low socioeconomic areas through visual and performing arts programs for kids The issue of Jewish identity is at the center of many discussions about the future of Judaism – how to maintain our traditions and culture in an SNEC helps us by building relationships with Jews in Israel and by letting us see the specific benefits to programs we sponsor. The social welfare goal was fulfilled by funding several programs: 1. The animal therapy program at Beit Singer Children’s Home 2. The Afula satellite office of the Haifa Rape Crisis Center 3. The Tarbut movement’s program to build increasingly assimilated, diverse and complicated world. SNEC helps us by building relationships with Jews in Israel and by letting us see the specific benefits to programs we sponsor. Continued on page 4 jewish messenger | page 3 Arab-Israeli Conflict More Complex than Assumed By Amir Cohen L One of 120 Beit Singer students benefiting from animal-assisted therapy partnership continued from page 3 In May, along with two other SNEC steering committee members, I visited our region. The Jewish Agency (JAFI) office in Afula planned our three-day itinerary. We met with the Afula-Gilboa Steering Committee and visited Beit Singer and also a horse riding therapy program for disabled children not funded by SNEC. We also had some very interesting discussions with some of Skype: A Recipe For Community the leaders of other partnership regions. As many of you who follow the weekly community Bulletin know, Yuval Hameiri, one of the members of the Tarbut group which we help fund, produced a short, nonfiction documentary film which he submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. Of the original 8,161 films submitted in the entire “shorts” category, his won the shorts documentary award! Along with the Israeli Steering Committee and our JAFI partners, we were privileged to view this film with Yuval on my recent visit. Yuval will be visiting our community on Octo- Separated by more than 5,400 miles, seven hours and language, two groups of women came together to share what they had in common: food and faith. On July 10, Ruth Ades, Marsha Onufrak and Cindy Yoken participated in a cooking lesson with women from the Afula-Gilboa region of Israel. Communicating via Skype, the Federation team led in the preparation of cheese blintzes with cherry sauce in Marsha’s kitchen. Cooking at a local community center, the SNECsponsored team in Israel offered instruction in the making of cheese muffins and carrot salad. A second session of international cooking class is already in the works. If you would like to participate in a future cooking lesson and/ or are willing to host, please contact the Federation at [email protected]. Groups of three to four people are ideal. This is a fun and fulfilling way to support our mission of strengthening ties between our community and Israel. Culinary school degrees and toques are not required; enthusiasm and an appetite for bonding through food are! page 4 | jewish messenger A Winner at the Sundance Film Festival ber 28 and will meet with students and members of the community at UMass Dartmouth as well as the Federation’s Pace Setters event in a smaller setting. And, finally, our partnership provides for a guest house in Kibbutz Yizre’el where you can stay for free. On your next trip to Israel, please visit our partnership community and enjoy that beautiful region. You will be welcomed with open arms (and lots of food). If you have any thoughts or questions or want to coordinate a visit, don’t hesitate to contact me or the Federation. l ast week, an opinion piece on the Arab-Israeli conflict by Robert Souza, a Suffolk University graduate student, ran in this paper (“Your View: Israeli, Palestinian feud not so ancient,” July 14). The impression left — purportedly supported by facts — is that Israel is a conquering, criminal power responsible for most wrongdoings in this conflict and that this conclusion is supported by “empirical evidence.” I feel a response is merited. In the past two weeks, 1,900 missiles have been fired at Israel from Gaza, bringing the total number fired since 2006 to more than 15,000. In the days prior to Souza’s article, Israel sent nearly 1,000 tons of diesel fuel for power and transportation, as well as truckloads of goods and medical equipment to Gaza. On July 16, Israel accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire. Hamas responded with a barrage of rockets and sent terrorists through a tunnel into Israel in an attempt to murder civilians and perhaps kidnap some for future bargaining. Souza tailors his “facts” to make the Arab-Israeli conflict one largely marked by Israeli aggression. He leaves out Israel’s history since its inception — except the Six Day War, which he only references as the start of a rapid Israeli land-grab — because including it would make it hard to logically agree with his characterization of the conflict. Let me fill in the gaps, then. On Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations voted to partition the land previously known as Palestine following the termination of the British Mandate, thereby establishing a homeland for the Jew- 2014-2015 Campaign KEY DATES ish people. Eight Muslim-majority countries — Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey — were UN member states at the time. As soon as British forces left, Jordan joined Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria in invading Israel with the goal of destroying it while it was still disorganized and defenseless. They failed. All except Lebanon tried again in the Six Day War in 1967 and in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Again they failed. The vast majority of the lands Israel seized in these wars was later returned, including the oil-rich Sinai Peninsula, in exchange for peace and official recognition from Egypt. Souza writes about the terrible living conditions of the Palestinians, perpetrated by an “oppressive “¦ Israeli occupation” consciously backed by the United States. He then proclaims that the failure of the peace process aimed at ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict thus far is entirely due to Israeli settlements and the exclusion of Hamas from peace talks, as well as a lack of real American effort. Finally, he suggests that solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is equivalent to solving the Arab-Israeli conflict, and thus resolving the former would stabilize the region. Palestinians today do live in poor conditions, and that is truly tragic. Israel’s actions on this matter, however, must be understood from the perspective of trying to protect its own civilians, which every country has the right and obligation to do. Gaza is a uniquely dangerous threat. After Israel pulled out in 2005, Gazans elected Hamas into power. This terrorist organization remains in power today, using civilians as cover and as political weapons even as they launch rockets at Israeli civilians. Missiles have been stored at and launched from schools and hos- pitals. Children and civilians have been forced to stay in areas from which missiles are launched, knowing the Israeli military will do everything it can to avoid civilian casualties. Israel has twice offered Palestinian leaders deals to establish an independent state. In 2000, President Bill Clinton brokered talks between Prime Minister Ehud Barak and PLO leader Yasser Arafat. A State of Palestine would have been established in Gaza and the West Bank with East Jerusalem as the capital. Barak agreed; Arafat did not, and soon after helped instigate the Second Intifada. And in 2008, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered Mahmoud Abbas almost 100 percent of the land behind the pre-1967 borders, again including East Jerusalem. Abbas rejected the offer. The notion that solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would solve the Arab-Israeli conflict seems to be based on the belief that the Arabs have been fighting with Israel on behalf of Palestinian rights and that they will stop when Palestinians attain sovereignty and relative prosperity. History suggests otherwise. Between 1949 and 1967, Jordan and Egypt controlled the West Bank and Gaza, respectively. Neither offered the Palestinians civil rights, let alone their own state. The current round of violence highlights the necessity for peaceful coexistence. To end this cycle and loss of life, Palestinians need only recognize Israel’s right to exist, end the targeting of Israeli civilians with rockets and terrorist attacks and focus instead on building a country of their own. Toward that end, I am certain Israel would be happy to help.. l October 28, 2014 December 31, 2014 Look for a personal invitation in the mail. Interested in becoming a Pacesetter and attending this Campaign kickoff? Call Amir Cohen at 508-997-7471 for details. If you have not already done so please send in your contribution today. Annual Campaign Launch - Pacesetters event for donors of $500 or more November 10, 2014 First Annual Campaign community mailing Your quick response and early pledge will be greatly appreciated. Your 2013-2014 Campaign pledge is due before year end. June 30, 2015 Campaign Close - Last day to make a pledge to the 2014-2015 Campaign We encourage making pledges much earlier. jewish messenger | page 9 Advocacy One of the roles of the Federation and its leadership is to represent and speak on behalf of the Jewish community. At times we speak of holidays and cultural activities but sometimes it requires tough debates and addressing challenges. In April Stuart Forman and I responded to an article advocating the boycott of Israeli universities. In July we responded to anti-Israel articles during the war in Gaza. Both appeared in “The Standard-Times” and are featured below. – Amir Cohen Boycotting Israel Is Nothing More Than Bigotry By Stuart Forman & Amir Cohen T he Friday, April 4, edition of The StandardTimes featured two opposing pieces in its Pro & Con section written by Lawrence J. Haas and George Bisharat under the heading, “Are groups promoting a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions misguided?” Haas voiced his opposition to the boycott while Bisharat defended this controversial initiative. Haas has local support. UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman weighed in on this topic in December when the American Studies Association made its academic boycott announcement, stating, in part, “Restrictions imposed on the ability of scholars of any particular country to work with their fellow academics in other countries ... violate academic freedom. We urge American scholars and scholars around the world who believe in academic freedom to oppose this and other such academic boycotts.” Bisharat’s diatribe discrediting Israel as a state and his support of academic sanctions in last week’s opinion piece show bias and are consistent with his well-documented anti-Israel stance, which has been criticized by university presidents, members of the ASA and the academic community at large in the past. Bisharat wrote, “Israel’s separation wall and other policies toward Palestinians have prompted repeated comparisons to South African apartheid.” What he does not share is how and why the current state of affairs has evolved. Israel has been forced to defend itself since 1948. A country of 700,000 people without a standing military, it was attacked by Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt upon news of the United Nations’ approval of the partition of Palestine. This partition plan granted the Jewish people a state on a small portion of their ancestral and historic homeland. In 1967, Israel again fought a war for sur- targeted Israeli buses and restaurants and thousands of Hamas rockets rained down on Israeli towns, schools and businesses. Bisharat referred to lands “illegally confiscated” and “ethnically cleansed.” These lands were granted to Israel by the UN and captured or recaptured in wars for survival. Survival (not apartheid) is also the reason why a separation wall was built between Israel and the West Bank. One has to hope that it will one day be taken down. The reality, though, is that suicide bombings have become very rare since the wall’s completion in 2012. The land captured in 1967 and 1973, including the Sinai Peninsula, has long since been returned to Egypt in a “land for peace” agreement. vival against its neighbors — and then again in 1973, when Israel defended itself after being attacked on Yom Kippur, its holiest day. The land captured in 1967 and 1973, including the Sinai Peninsula, has long since been returned to Egypt in a “land for peace” agreement. Israel also withdrew from Gaza and dismantled its settlements there and offered 90 percent of the West Bank to a future Palestinian State, but in return for these gestures, suicide bombers To assume that academic boycotts will force Israel’s hand in its political negotiations with Palestinian groups is not only misguided, but bigoted. Where are the sanctions against other countries accused of human rights offenses or involved in boundary disputes? This academic boycott is simply part of a global campaign to delegitimize the Jewish state — and that is simply unacceptable. l 250 Elm Street, Padanaram Village South Dartmouth, MA 02748 Telephone: (508) 999-1010 v Fax: (508) 999-5248 annewhitingrealestate.com v [email protected] Steven D. Mazza, Associate Cell: (508) 207-5605 page 8 | jewish messenger UMass-Dartmouth Center for Jewish Culture Highlights I t has been a rewarding year professionally and personally. It is good to be back on campus after living in Jerusalem while on leave. It is good, too, to come back with a deeper understanding of the Women of the Wall and to be able to teach about this inspiring group’s history here. In February, Dr. David Kertzer visited campus, speaking about “The Vatican, the Pope, and the Path to Italy’s 1938 Racial Laws.” Dr. Kertzer is the former provost of Brown University and is currently the Dupee University Professor of Social Science as well as professor of anthropology and Italian studies at Brown University. Author of 13 books and a National Jewish Book Award winner, Kertzer spoke about his latest book, “The Pope and Musso- lini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe”, telling the story of Pope Pius XI’s secret relations with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his surprising role in the development of Italy’s racial laws. Jews, who had lived in Italy for over 2,000 years, were deemed a threat to Italian society in the years leading up to World War II. Gal Beckerman, opinion editor at The Forward, spoke on campus in March. He is the author of “When They Come for Us, We’ll be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry” and winner of the 2010 National Jewish Book Award and the 2012 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. His book details the politics and passion that fueled the mass exodus of Russian Jews in 1989, whose emigration affected our own community and Jewish communities across the United States. I appreciate the continuing support of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, which helps make possible a stimulating smorgasbord of Jewish cultural programming on campus.l RABBI JACQUELINE SATLOW director of the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and coordinator of the Center for Jewish Culture at UMass-Dartmouth Please Join Us for Lunch on October 28 at 12:30 In the UMass Dartmouth Library Grand Reading Room Special Guest: Yuval Hameiri Sundance Film Festival Award-Winning Director Together we will watch and discuss his award-winning short film “I think this is the closest to how the footage looked” This program is a collaboration between the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford and the Center for Jewish Culture at UMass Dartmouth and is open to both students and members of the community. jewish messenger | page 5 AnnualForCampaign gifts pledged and received King David $18,000 - $25,000 Karan & Alfred Ross Ben Gurion $5,000 - $17,999 Elaine & Paul Chervinsky Sheldon Friedland Murray Goldberg Samuel Kaplan Charitable Fund C/O Todd Eisenberg Evelyn Baum & Kenneth Lipman Lillian Shwartz Sue & Calvin Siegal June Smith & Kenneth Shwartz Theodore Herzl $2,500 - $4,999 Ruth & Alan Ades Peggy & Edward Barry Judy Barry Stanley Goldstein Leslie & Jack Howard Frances & Clinton Levin Marcia & Stanley Revzin Frima & Gilbert Shapiro Chai $1,000 - $2,499 Betty & William Abesh Susan Barnet Nina Blumenthal & Scott Corin Helen Eisenberg Debbie & Lloyd Felder Ronya & Norman Glassman Barbara & Milton Glicksman Edward Goldberg Leslea & Robert Harelick Carolyn & Melvyn Holland Lee & Jeffrey Horowitz Wendy & Kenneth Joblon Linda & Robert Lane Barbara Pearl & Martin Lipman Miriam London Betty Matathia Shirley Palestine Susan & Donald Rudnick Barbara Samuels Sybil Savit Louise & Larry Shwartz Paul Solomon Meg & Barry Steinberg Cynthia & Melvin Yoken Maura & Michael Zeman Marsha Jackson & John Dockstader Sybil & Robert Jackson Scholarship Fund Masada $500 - $999 Shelley & John Day Amy & Todd Eisenberg Deborah & Stuart Forman Janet Freedman & Andrew Peppard Ruth & David Glicksman Ruben Goldstein Carole & Wil Herrup Ellen Hull Lois & George Jacobs Barbara & Sidney Kaplan Ronni & Irvin Krause Andrea & Murray Lukoff Marsha & John Onufrak Laura & Matthew Philips Ralph Pollack Judy Pollack Roger Rosen Daphne & Edward Siegal Bonnie & Louis Silverstein Judith & Robert Sterns Elaine & Alvin Youman Anonymous (1) Chaverim-$1 - $499 Elizabeth & Kenneth Ackerman Carin & David Adelstein Dorothy Aghai Rahim Aghai page 6 | jewish messenger Doris Alberts Cecilia Alkalay Anita & Manny Asser Pearl & Paul Bacdayan Elyse & Harry Baggen Donald Barash Andrew Barroll Cindy Benson & Raphael Kanter Doris & David Berger Diane Berube Myra Besen Ruth & Bernard Bier Phyllis & Neal Bornstein Martin Bromberg Laura & Steve Carreiro Sarah & David Caruso Ida Case Nancy & Raymond Castino Joyce Costa Maureen & Louis Deneault Roberta Dolinsky Esther & Robert Eisner Peggy Fain Debra & Jason Falk Peter Federman Ilana Feinerman & Cary Isaacs Jonathan Feinstein Pauline & Elliott Feinstein Harriet & Lawrence Fletcher Mary & Gerald Franklin Barbara Friedland Wendy Friedman Charlotte Friedman Sheila & Howard Galitsky Vera Gassar Ellen Gitlin Goldie Gitlin Glaser Glass Corporation C/O Iris Wallace & Rosalyn Glaser Rosalyn Glaser-Bernstein & Norman Bernstein Arthur Glassman Barbara & Edward Glicksman Myra Goldberg Helen Goldberg Ann & Stanley Goldstein Beverly Goldstein Andrea & Milton Goodman Heidi & David Gotlib Barbara & Aaron Gotlib Vera Grafova Ruth & Martin Gross Robin Gross Shoshana & Barry Hartman Burton Hastings Ruth Hastings Sophie Helfand Edith Helfand Cheryl & Todd Herman Lois & Jay Horowitz Bertram Howard Mary & Barrett Hurwitz Mary Ellen & Malcolm Jones Elaine & Leonard Kaner Barbara Kaplan Joel Kaplan Ira Katz Sherri & Harold Kaufman Gayle & Thomas Kiefer Edith Kleger Juliana & Andrei Klein Sherry Krause Mazza Andrea & Alan Kreiss Polina Kremer Boris Kremer Doreen & Edward Kristal Maria LaTour Judith Lederman-Lechan & Ronald Lechan Susan & Steven Lefkowitz Brenda & Martin Levin Susan & Jerry Levin Claire & Fred Levin Doris Levine Ilene & Stanley Levine Katherine & Melvin Levine Robert Levinson Rachel & Abraham Levinson Rachel & Anthony Lewis Jean & Bruce Lider Mae & Stanley Lipp A Honor Roll through June 30, 2014 Marion & Peter London Myrna & Paul Lubin Beth & Donald Lucero Sophia & Alex Lustikman Shelley Martin Karen & Jeffrey Martin Judy & Kenneth Martin Donna Maxfield Elliot Mazza Silvija & Steven Mazza Anne & Shawn McGuire Anna & Michael Mello Susan Mick Judi Mickelson Nathan Naftoly National Council of Jewish Women Osna Nisson Robert Nochimow Florence Novick Barbara & James O’Dwyer J. Leonard Perler Sara & Abram Piratinskiy Edith Pliskin Christine Raber Eric Radin Rex Monumental Works C/O Tom Rex Rachel & David Rolston Janet & David Rosenberg Dora & M.C. Rosenfield Bernard Roth Ilse & Edward Rothman Meryl Russell Wendy & Peter Russell Catherine & Michael Russell Bernice Russo Donna Sachs Harvey Salk* Charlotte Salon Carol & Robert Saltzman Patricia & Henry Saltzman Rakhil Sapir Melynda & Nathaniel Schudrich Daniel Schwartz Thelma Schwartz Mary Schwartz Harris Sederholm Marjorie Seltzer Iris & Julius Shaw Emma & Igor Shovmer Irma Shuster Barbara & Byron Shuster Arthur Sklut Robbin Smith Carol Smola Wendy & Jeremy Stern Carol & Warren Sterns William Straus Irina & Anatoly Tokman Marion & Henry Wainer Nonie Walder Linda & Robert Waxler Dale Weber & Frank McDonough Marc Weiner Judy Winet-Florent Irma & Gordon Wolfe Julia, Gregory & Raisa Yurovitsky Cheryl Zeoli Beverly Zexter Janet & Alan Zexter Anonymous (8) Amir Cohen *deceased Israel emergency campaign donors Betty & William Abesh Liz & Ken Ackerman Susan Barnet Judy Barry Jack Belkin Ruth and Bud Bier Phyllis & Neal Bornstein Elaine & Paul Chervinsky Amir Cohen Scott Corin & Nina Blumenthal Maureen & Louis Deneault Amy & Todd Eisenberg Esther & Bob Eisner Debra & Jason Falk Wendy Friedman Rosalyn Glaser-Bernstein & Norman Bernstein Barbara & Aaron Gotlib Ellen Hull Cindy Benson & Raphael Kanter Edith Kleger Polina Kremer Boris Kremer Barbara Pearl & Martin Lipman Marion & Peter London Elizabeth Matathia Donna Maxfield Anne & Shawn McGuire Susan Mick Nathan Naftoly National Council of Jewish Women Marsha & John Onufrak Sara & Abram Piratinskiy Judy Pollack Christine & John Raber Karan & Alfred Ross Meryl Russell Catherine & Michael Russell Donna Sachs Patricia & Henry Saltzman Bonnie & Louis Silverstein Paul Solomon Irina & Anatoly Tokman Marion & Henry Wainer Cindy & Mel Yoken Cheryl & Dan Zeoli gifts in honor of: Susan Barnet Stuart Forman Judy Barry Calvin Siegal Barbara Gotlib, to Jonathan Gotlib Memorial Scholarship Fund William Abesh Alan Ades Beverly Goldstein Maxine Jaffe Betty Matathia Sybil Savit Lillian Shwartz Judi Sterns Robin & Richard Gross Stuart Forman Ellen Hull Reverend David Lima Barbara & Sidney Kaplan Aaron Gotlib Cynthia Yoken Betty Matathia gifts in memory of Judy Barry Phil Kates Thelma Kivowitz Dick Palestine Bonnie Feldman David Finger Sheldon Friedland Shulamith Friedland Barbara Gotlib, to Jonathan Gotlib Memorial Scholarship Fund Norman Friedland Harvey Gershlak Joshua Greaves Phil Kates Alfred Maguire Bob Reisbaum Ed Shore Barbara & Sidney Kaplan, to Jonathan Gotlib Memorial Scholarship Fund David Finger Martin Lipman Claire Hurwitz Joan & David Wollen, to Jonathan Gotlib Memorial Scholarship Fund Alfred Maguire Cynthia Yoken, to Holocaust Memorial & Education Committee Samuel Pinkenson Eleanor Roth jewish messenger | page 7